FROM THE PASTOR'S DESK...

Transcription

1 Forest Street Union Church 15 Forest Street Methuen, MA (978) Forest Street Footprints APRIL 2011 FROM THE PASTOR'S DESK... Dear Friends in Christ, Since we are in the middle of Lent, I am reminded of a cartoon character named "Pontius Puddle". In one of the strips he is described as a "Pew Potato". Most of us are familiar with the term "Couch Potato", but what is a "Pew Potato"? One observer describes it this way: A Pew Potato wants to be cared for but doesn't know how to care. A Pew Potato wants to be visited but never visits. He/she catalogs the mistakes of others but misses his/her own. He/she wants the church to have Bible study but never attends. A Pew Potato has not only forgotten what he/she used to be but has lost sight of what he/she could become. New Potatoes become Pew Potatoes when they stop growing and just "vegetate". During this time of Lent when we are to examine ourselves and our relationship to God, let us consider whether we have become Pew Potatoes. Yours in Christian love, Scott

2 Mission Statement F orest Street Union Church is a family of believers in Jesus Christ, who through Christian love, encourage continued spiritual growth for ourselves, our children and all who enter here. We are a caring church, blessed with a rich heritage, seeking to share our faith in God through acts of service to the community and the world. Liturgists are needed to read at Sunday service. Please sign up on the sheet in the Vestry. We need your voice! Thank You! Rev. Scott, Benjamin Walko, Jim Elliott and Terry Witkum for sharing your voices with us in February! EASTER PLANTS The Easter Plant order form can be found in the weekly bulletin as well as on the last page of this newsletter. Tulips $10 Lily $15 Daffodils $10 Hyacinths $10 All orders are due by April 10th. Donations in memory of loved ones to the operating expenses of the Church in lieu of plants are also welcome.

3 WORSHIP WATCH Sunday April 3 Communion Food Cart Best Wishes Fourth Sunday of Lent Scripture: Mark 15:16-39 Sermon: Overheard: Simon and the Centurion Sunday April 10 Fifth Sunday of Lent Scripture: Luke 23:32-43 Sermon: Overheard: the two Thieves Sunday April 17 Sixth Sunday of Lent Scripture: John 19:23-42 Sermon: Overheard Mary and John Thursday April 21 MAUNDY THURSDAY WORSHIP 7:00PM Sunday April 24 EASTER SUNDAY Scripture: Acts 10:34-43, John 20:1-9 Sermon: Rainbows Abound; the bridge of life is completed. THEME FOR LENT Our Lenten theme for 2011 will be Lift High the Cross. Each Sunday service will open with the extinguishing of a candle in the wreath of thorns and the hymn Lift High the Cross. Sermons will be centered around conversations that might have been heard near the cross or during Holy Week. Council Meetings 2nd Monday of the Month Next meeting Monday, April 11, 2011 at 7:00PM Jim Elliott elliottjm47@yahoo.com

4 CHURCH SCHOOL NEWS Sunday School is busy learning about the Lenten Season. We are filling in a Lenten flower which will be very colorful by the end of Lent. We are also remembering and praying for the people of Japan. The Christian Ed Committee has posted the Pulsifer-Foulds Scholarship and summer campership forms in the vestry. Note: Pulsifer-Foulds Scholarships are available to all graduating high school seniors who are church members and attended Forest Street Church School. Summer campership is available to any Forest Street church member who will be attending a Christian camp this summer. More details can be found on the application forms located on the bulletin board in the Vestry. MISSIONS MISSIONS FOR THE MONTH OF MARCH With your generosity Missions was able to donate a $400 to the following worthy organizations last month. $200 Bread and Roses $200 Communities Together POINT TO PONDER Jesus did not command the whole world to go to church. Jesus commanded the church to go to the whole world. Greg Laurie Hospitality We care for each other and share the responsibility

5 for coffee and treats! Thanks especially to those who served in March: Friendship Circle Paul Poulin & Barry Reich The Sapienza Family Please sign up for April! SCOTT SEZ Info RE: Nick Griffin - MAIL Our young friend Nicholas Griffin, new husband of Cindy Zacharias, has deployed to Afghanistan. His first tour was to Iraq. It would be great if each of us would send him a card once in a while to remind him that we care. His address is below. For those of you who know his rank I remind you not to use it in the address. Griffin, Nicholas B CO, TF 1-32 Infantry FOB Howz-e-Madad APO, AE The Pastoral Search committee is continuing with candidate interviewing and asks for your continued prayers and support.

6 Forest Street Fellowship (a.k.a. Youth Group) News April 3 - Acting Out Easter We will do a play on the events of Easter Week April 10 - Making spring wreaths April 17 - Palm Sunday - no youth group April 24 - Easter - no youth group Youth group meets weekly 6 7PM for grades :30PM for senior high age Save the date: Sunday, May 29th Potluck Cookout & Wiffle Ball Friendship Circle Thursday April 21, 2011 at 2:00PM Meet at Joyce Barden s home 56 Poor Street, Andover You are invited!

7 FROM THE DEACON'S CLOSET Highlights from the March 20th 2011 Deacon s Meeting. Rev. Raeburn is conducting an innovative Lenten series during the Sundays of Lent with a theme of Lift High the Cross. Each sermon includes a tape recording of possible conversations between some of the major characters in the Easter story which has been from what we are hearing a hit with the Congregation. Rev. MaryAnn Thibault-Vandette will be conducting the Maundy Thursday service this year. Due to a lack of availability of people Pastor Raeburn and the Diaconate decided to not hold a Good Friday service this year. Rev. Raeburn will let us all know if he hears of a Good Friday service that parishioners could attend if they wish to. During Pastor Raeburn s vacation the pulpit will be filled on May 1 st (Communion) by Rev. Mary-Ann who has volunteered to do the service and on May 8 th (Mother s Day) by Bill MacKenzie. Easter plant order forms are being inserted in the Church bulletins beginning Sunday, March 20th with a due date of April 10th for completed order forms and your payment with checks made out to Forest Street Union Church. You can put them in the offering plate labeled Easter flowers or get them to the Church office by April 10 th where our Church Secretary Judy will tally them up so that the Diaconate can place our final Easter flowers order right after April 10th Deacons scheduled to serve in April are Nancy Pollock, Jim Elliott, Rev. Mary-Ann Thibault-Vandette, and Bill MacKenzie. The next Deacons Meeting is scheduled for April 17, 2011 after Church. As per the request of the Church Council, Bill MacKenzie, as the Organ Fund Officer, has filed an application with the Methuen Festival of Trees for possible financial assistance with some maintenance work that will need to be done on the organ within the next year or two. This work is being coordinated with the Music Committee and the Church organists.

8 A reminder regarding hospitalized members of Forest Street Union Church if you are hospitalized, either you (if possible), or someone from your family need to notify the church office or contact the Pastor or co-chairs of the Deacons, Jim Elliott or Bill MacKenzie. Hospitals and their Chaplain s are no longer allowed, due to the HIPPA privacy act, to notify Pastors or Churches. The burden for notification is on the individual and/or their families. Also if you are visited by Pastor Scott and or Rev. Mary-Ann in her role as hospital Chaplin or by a member of the Church you have to let them know that they have your permission to notify Pastor Scott and/or the Church, if that is your wish. Jim Elliott & Bill MacKenzie, Co-Chairs of the Diaconate for 2011 DEACONS FOR THE MONTH OF APRIL WILL BE Nancy Pollock, Jim Elliott, Rev. Mary-Ann Thibault-Vandette, and Bill MacKenzie THANK YOU Barbara Lewis & Sean Davis for your service as Deacons in March! March Diaconate Meeting Sunday 4/17 at 11:15AM A Note on Music History It is approaching Easter Sunday one of the most popular and most rousing hymns that will be sung in churches of many faiths on Easter Sunday is Christ the Lord Is Risen Today Author Charles Wesley, , Music from Lyra Davidica, 1708, Tune Name Easter Hymn He is not here for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. Matthew 28:6 The first Wesleyan Chapel in London, England, was a deserted iron foundry. It became known as the Foundry Meeting House. This hymn was written by Charles Wesley for the first service in this chapel in 1739, just one year after Charles s dramatic Aldersgate conversion experience. The hymn was first published in the Foundry s Collection which contained hymns set to music as they are commonly sung at the

9 Foundry. The book had approximately fifty hymns with an additional Psalm Supplement. The original title of this hymn was Hymn for Easter Day. It contained eleven four-line stanzas. The popularity of this hymn is due in part to the fine tune with which it has been wedded for many years. The composer of the music to this day is unknown. The tune first appeared anonymously in the Lyra Davidica Hymnal, published in London in The joyous alleluia at the end of each line was not written by Wesley but was added by an editor to make the text fit the tune. Hallelujah or alleluia is from the ancient Hebrew worship service and was a common expression of praise in the early Christian Church. Jerome, an important leader of the early church who translated the Bible into the Latin language and died circa 420 A.D., wrote that in his day the very ceilings of houses of worship were often shaken with the reverberating Hallelujahs when believers sang their praises to God. So may our rafters ring as in the days of old as we sing together Jesus Christ is risen to-day, Al-le-lu-ia! Sons of men and angels say: - Al-le-lu-ia! Raise your joys and triumphs high, Al-le-lu-ia! Sing, ye heav ns and earth reply: Al-le-lu-ia! 2 Charles Wesley is also the author of Jesus, Lover of My Soul, O for a Thousand Tongues, A Charge to Keep I Have, Depth of Mercy and Hark! The Herald Angels Sing. 1 1 Information derived from 101 Hymn Stories by Kenneth W Osbeck. 2Hymn 13 verse 1 from 101 Hymn Stories.

10 Fundraising Committee The Fundraising Committee is sponsoring a Spring Concert featuring PITCH SLAPPED Saturday, April 23@ 7:30 pm Forest Street Church 15 Forest Street, Methuen, MA A bit of Glee, Sing Off and American Idol visits Methuen Pitch Slapped is the premiere coed a cappella group from Boston s Berklee College of Music Advance Tickets Sales Adults - $8.00 Seniors & Children (under 12) - $6.00 At the Door Adults - $10.00 Seniors & Children (Under 12) - $8.00 Group Rates (8 or more), call Tues. - Fri., 9AM Noon church office evenings at Advance sale tickets are recommended Seating is limited The Fundraising Committee will need everyone s help in promoting this event to family and friends. Please spread the word through your social network! If you would like to help by selling tickets contact Nancy Pollock, nanacyandjim95@comcast.net. Tickets will be available after church on

11 March 13th. People purchasing their tickets in advance, save $2.00. We also have group rates available for 8 or more. Easter Celebration Plants Name: In Celebration of: In Loving Memory of: Tulips $10 Lilies $15 Daffodils $10 Hyacinths $10 Please make checks payable to

12 Forest St. Union Church Please clearly mark for FLOWERS Donations in memory of loved ones to the operating expenses of the Church in lieu of plants are also welcome. Orders are due April 10, 2011 FOREST STREET UNION CHURCH PRAYER CHAIN If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer Matthew 21:22 For prayer chain requests please contact Terry Witkum ( ) Become a link in our chain by contacting Terry Witkum at the phone number above.